An Artist's Date with Friends

As a creative, it is imperative for growth to always keep your heart and eyes open to inspiration. It's not always an easy task and sometimes you need a little push and sometimes that push comes in your friends. Last week, my friends Kim, Kris, and I ventured out together in the city on an Artist's Date based on a proven concept from Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way.

Before I share our awesome experience allow me to first explain an Artist's Date. An artist's date is a date you set with yourself every week as a creative to recover and restore and gain creativity and inspiration. It is a block of time, maybe like two hours weekly set aside to committ to nurturing your creative consciousness and your inner artist. You aren't supposed to take anyone along with you but this time we made an exception. Join us three creatives on an artist's date...

During a dinner a few weeks back, Kim asked Kris what keeps her inspired and from there we took off and ended with a commitment to go an artist's date together. I had to come up with the place lol and I decided to take them somewhere I have gone like literally my entire life....the Vietnamese Grocery store in Midtown. It has tons of inspiration that one wouldn't normally look for, along with the freshest fish and super affordable produce.

It doesn't matter how many times I've been in this store I always get inspired. This time around, I wanted to pay attention to the details of packaging. I'm working on a new collection and rebranding for Brunch & Sew and the perfect place to pay attention to packaging. This place is perfect.

After 45 minutes of capturing images for Snapchat and smelling the memorable aromas in the grocery store, we decided on a photo opp with Kris's hat. Kris style and artistry is to die for.

Next up, lunch!!! I have been telling Kris and Kim forever how much I love sticky rice and mango, a traditional Asian desert. What better place to take them than to Shang Hai where I get my sticky rice. It's around the corner from the Vietnamese Grocery store, oh forget to mention the area is like Memphis's Asian community.

I have looked up at this little sign for almost 20 years of my life now. It was a family tradition to go to Shang Hai on Friday's for dinner. The shrimp fried rice and egg roll taste will be forever saved on my palette. Now I feel like family. Nguyen the grandmother and cook of the restaurant is such a sweet lady and cooks with so much love. Hence, the sticky rice I order. It's not on the menu officially. I place an order and she prepares it for me. You have to love this place.

Have you all read The Artist's Way? Do you go on Artist's Date's ? I'd love to know. Kris and Kim both documented their experiences and you should totally check them out.